[lbo-talk] Fwd: Antioch closing!

[Jim Straub]

I don't mean to be a hater for its own sake.  And certainly, we do need a
larger transformation in values, critical outlook and ideology among much of
the public at large to change the world.  I would argue that the only way
we'll move an inch in that direction is building a mass institutional power
base of working people who identify their gains in money and security with
that type of larger movement.  But those deeper changes that are needed,
hey, certainly, american left strongholds like subcultures or the humanities
academia have made some great contributions.  But I confess taking delight
in pointing out the extent to which the subculture and lefty academia are
openly mocked by the public as being foo-foo and silly, because leftists
need to spend less time in places like yellow springs and more time in
places like springfield.  Broadly speaking that is.  I mean I know it's not
all either/or, but, maybe to some extent it is.

Years ago I dated a person who was enrolled at the very similar Goddard in
Vermont, so I spent a lotta time up there.  Blech!  Goddard eventually
closed, and I don't see it as the biggest tragedy for the left that future
hippy kids will have to major in bong ideology elsewhere.

So, Jim, what is the ultimate point of trying to organize the working
> class? Just providing the actually existing set of people some more
> money and security, or changing the way they relate to the world. Is
> the working class as it is pretty much ok? If so, why are we radicals
> then?
>
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